Apparatus for feeding and applying stencils



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. A. WEBER ET AL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND APPLYING STENCILS Filed Sept. 15, 1958 Sept. 4, 1962 Sept. 4, 1962 J. A. WEBER ETAL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND APPLYING STENCILS Filed Sept. 15. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 4, 1962 J. A. WEBER ETAL 3,052,284

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND APPLYING STENCILS Filed Sept. 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 4, 1962 J. A. WEBER ETAL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND APPLYING STENCILS Filed Sept. 15. less 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 4, 1962 .1. A. WEBER ETAL 3,052,284

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND APPLYING STENCILS Filed Sept. 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Unite 3,052,284 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 fiice 3,652,284 APPARATUS FUR FEEDING AND APPLYHNG STENCILS Joseph A. Weber and James R. Thomas, Prospect Heights, and Richard W. Jackson, Arlington Heights, IlL; said Thomas and said .lackson assignors to said Weber Filed Sept. 15, 1953, Ser. No. 761,040 Claims. (Cl. 156-542) This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for feeding and applying stencils.

The system of tabbing stencils on business forms has been developed to perform a vital adjunct to the business world. Many systems have been produced in anendless variety in recent years to aid in control over manufacturing, sales, shipments, invoicing, and every phase of business. The business forms discussed herein are multisheet forms usual-1y interleaved with carbon sheets and having numerous indicia and legends inscribed thereon. The common feature of these systems include a single typing of all the attendant information required of the transaction. In the event the transaction is a sale and comprises a shipment of one or more packages it is the intent of the present system to insure that the packages are addressed identically to the invoice and the bill of lading. The marking or addressing of the packages is accomplished by means of a stencil which is cut simultaneously with the imprinting by typing of the invoice or multiple sheet business form. This insures that the invoice, bill of lading, and packages will all have the same name and address imprinted thereon. This is indeed an important feature of modern business and eliminates errors and discrepancies which have occurred in the past under other systems. In order to accomplish the ideal results just described it is necessary to affix a removable stencil to a predetermined area of the multiple sheet business form to thereby make it possible with one typing to cut the stencil and simultaneously imprint the multiple sheet business form with the name and address of the addressee.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a machine for removably fastening a stencil onto a predetermined area of a multiple sheet business form.

An important object of this invention is the provision of means in a machine for longitudinally moving multiple sheet business forms and simultaneously transversely moving stencils and means for removably fastening the stencils to predetermined areas of the multiple sheet business forms.

Another important object of this invention is to supply multiple sheet business forms with punched margins wherein the forms may be driven and indexed within a machine, and means for simultaneously delivering a stencil to a predetermined position on the indexed forms and removably fastening the stencil to the form for subsequent use with the multiple sheet business form.

A still further important object of this invention is to equip a machine for longitudinally indexing multiple sheet business forms and transversely delivering a roll of stencil material through said machine, cutting said stencil to desired lengths, feeding the cut stencil across the multiple sheet business forms and removably fastening a cut stencil to a predetermined portion of each of the business forms.

Another and still further important object of this invention is the accurate indexing of single or multiple sheet business forms of various sizes with punched margins and attaching stencils in a predetermined location on the single or multiple sheet forms.

Another and further important object of this invention is to provide a machine for indexing a plurality of continuous business forms and for transversely feeding a newly cut stencil having a carbon backing sheet and accurately moving the stencil and associated underlying carbon sheet to a predetermined location on each business form as it is indexed within the machine and thereupon fastening said stencil and carbon sheet to the business form.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for feeding a roll of stencil material equipped with a carbon backing sheet and a reusable pressure sensitive adhesive strip along one edge thereof, and for cutting the stencil material into desired lengths.

Another and still further important object of this invention is to provide a stencil applicator in which the stencil is in the form of a roll having a carbon underlying sheet and a pressure sensitive reusable tape along one edge thereof and means for cutting the stencil into predetermined lengths and delivering the cut stencil pieces to a predetermined location over a business form which is indexed through the same machine at right angles to the delivery of the stencil material and thereupon fasten for subsequent removal each piece of stencil material to a business form.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The driving mechanism employed in this device is further depicted and completely described in a copending patent application entitled Driving Mechanism, Patent No. 2,950,623.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the stencil applicator of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the top portion of the stencil applying machine of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevational view detail showing the means for driving the stencil material and as taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the device as shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 shows a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a representative multiple sheet business form with stencils thereon.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view detail of the driving means employed in this device. 7

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the driving means of FIG- URE 8.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral .10 indicates generally a frame supporting structure. The frame supporting structure in cludes floor engaging legs 11 at each corner of the substantially rectangular device. A shelf 12 formed on the frame supporting structure is employed as a receiving station for a supply of continuous business forms 13. A shelf-like discharge station 14 is disposed over one end of the shelf v12 opposite the receiving station and is adapted to receive stencil tabbed forms as they are completed. The shelf-like discharge station 14 is provided with depending quadrant-like brackets 15 at each end thereof. An arcuate slot 16 is provided in the quadrants 15 and permits adjustment of the shelf 14 to any desired angular r position.

A vertically disposed elongated slot 11a in the leg 11 crosses the arcuate slot 16 in the quadrant I15 and. thus by means of a hinge pin 17 in the shelf 14 and journaled in the vertical leg slot 11a the shelf may be angularly adjusted thereabout. A thumb screw 18 passes through the crossing slots 16 and 11a to provide for locking and unlocking of the receiving shelf 14 in any angular position.

It is obvious the hinged shelf 14 may be inclined at any desired angle merely by a manual adjustment of these devices just described. The hinge elements are made relatively loose to permit a limited lateral cocking or angling of the shelf 14 as well as a longitudinal angling to compensate for offsets in thicknesses of the business forms being used.

A roll of stencil material 19 is mounted on a spool 20 which in turn is carried on a shaft 21. The shaft 21 is journally supported in a depending frame member 22 which is an integral part of the frame supporting structure 10. The stencil material comprises the usual Yoshino stencil paper and preferably a reusable pressure sensitive adhesive strip along one side edge thereof. Either a carbon sheet or a carbon coating is provided on the underside of the stencil sheet. Especially when a separate carbon sheet is employed the arrangement makes a bulky unwieldy roll which is diflicult to control with the flimsy carbon sheet constituting the back and the adhesive strip positioned only along the edge of one side.

As best shown in FIGURE 3 there is provided a gear reducer 23 which is mounted on the frame supporting structure 10. The gear reducer is equipped with an input pulley 24 which is arranged and constructed to be driven by a V-belt 25 which receives drive from an electric motor or the like (not shown). On the other side of the gear reducer 23 ther is provided an output or driving sprocket 26 which is utilized to drive all of the various elements of the stencil applicator of this invention. A chain 27 engages the driving sprocket 26 and extends around spaced apart sprockets 28 and 29 which are mounted on shafts 30 and 31 respectively which are journally supported in the frame supporting structure 10. The first driven shaft 30 is carried in spaced apart bearings 32 and 33 and similarly the second driven shaft 31 is carried in bearings 34 and 35 on the frame 10.

A bevel gear 36 is mounted on the first driven shaft 39 and engages a bevel gear 37 disposed at right angles thereto. The mating bevel gear 37 is mounted on and affixed to a shaft 38. A crank arm 39 mounted on and driven by the shaft 30 is arranged and constructed to impart drive to the feeding mechanism for the continuous business forms 13. The crank arm 39 is provided with an elongated slot 40 which extends substantially the length thereof. A chain 41 having a fastening or connecting link 42 is joined to the elongated slot 40 of the crank arm by means of a lock nut 43. Thus it should be understood that the chain and its fastening link may be positioned in any desired location throughout the radial extent of the elongated slot 40. A sprocket 44 is mounted on a shaft 45 for free rotation thereover. A spring 46 is joined to the ends of the chain 41 at 47 and 48 and thus the chain and spring constitute an endless extensible driving element.

Apulley 49 is journally mounted on the frame 10 and receives the spring 46. The rotation of the crank 39 in the direction of the. arrow 50 causes the chain 41 to effect rotation of the sprocket 44.

A .cylindrical spool 51 is mounted on and driven by the shaft 45 and with the aid of short radial pins 52 spaced at regular intervals around the side edges thereof is adapted to engage and drive the continuous business forms 13 by the penetration of the radial pins 52 into holes 53 in the side margins of the continuous business forms. Thus as the spool rotates the continuous business forms are positively indexed through the machine by pulling them from the receiving station 12 and carrying them across the top of the machine and thence depositing them on the discharge tray or the like 14. A spaced apart spool '54 in horizontal alignment with the spool 51 is mounted on a shaft which is in turn journally mounted on the frame -10. The spaced apart spools 51 and 54 define a flat horizontal run 56 for the continuous business forms across the top of the machine. It is in this straight, flat run that the stencil is applied to the business forms. The spool 51 is the sole means for effecting a driving of the business 4- forms through the machine. The spaced apart spool 54 is merely an idler roller and guides the continuous business forms in the flat plane 56 while the stencils are being applied to the business forms. Obviously any form of guide means could be employed in this location inasmuch as the spaced apart driving spool 51 pulls and indexes the business forms through the machine.

A ratchet wheel 57 which is formed integrally with the sprocket 44 is journalled on the shaft 45 between the sprocket 44 and the spool 51. A separate collar 198 is fastened to the shaft 45 by a set screw 199 and thus holds the combination sprocket and ratchet wheel against lateral displacement. A plate 58 in the form of a disc like member is attached at 59 to the shaft 45. A pawl or dog 60 is hingedly mounted at 61 on the plate 58. A leaf type spring 62 is mounted on the plate 58 at 63 and normally urges the pawl 60 inwardly against the ratchet wheel 57. These driving details are clearly shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 of this application and also shown in our Patent No. 2,950,623.

In the driving of the continuous business forms through this machine the drive for the spool 51 is intermittent and the amount of movement of the business forms is controlled by the positioning of the connecting link 42 within the elongated slot 49 of the crank arm 39. The mechanism for driving the spool 51 from the first driven shaft 30 in effect amounts to a one-way drive. As the crank arm 58 rotates in the direction of the arrow 5f the chain 41 is pulled downwardly to cause a rotation of the sprocket 44 and thus also a simultaneous rotation of the ratchet Wheel 57 which forms an integral part of the sprocket 44. The sprocket and ratchet are merely journalled on the shaft 45 and there is no simultaneous rotation of the shaft merely upon the rotation of the sprocket and the ratchet. As the crank rotates in the direction of the arrow 50 the ratchet 57 is pulled against the pawl st; to thereupon simultaneously rotate the disc or crank like member 58 which is afiixed to the shaft as shown in FIGURE 9. The number of ratchet teeth moved is accurately determined by the effective length of the crank arm 39 which may be adjusted as previously explained by moving the connecting link 42 inwardly or outwardly in the slot 46. Although the business forms 13 are stated to be continuous the forms are in effect separate forms with perforations therebetween to merely facilitate continuous movement through this tabbing machine. In any event the amount of indexing fo the business forms within the machine should be identical each time in order that the stencil applied by this machine be placed in the same position on each of the separate business forms. The drive just described is very accurate in its feeding of the business forms and it should be understood that the effective operation of the crank 39 is through that portion of its arcuate movement which pulls downwardly on the chain 41. When the crank arm 3% moves upwardly the chain 41 is also moved upwardly by reason of the spring 45 which completes the continuous or endless band member. However, during this upward movement of the chain 41 the ratchet wheel 57 merely slips past the spring held pawl 60 to thereupon free wheel and there will be no driving of the shaft 45 in a reverse direction. Movement of the driving spool 51 thus is occasioned only in a forward direction or a pulling from left to right as viewed in FIGURE 2 wherein the forms are moved from a station 12 as shown at 13 to the final depositary on the hinged shelf 14 as shown at 64.

A pair of spaced apart spring guides 65 are arranged and constructed to hold the business forms down over the driving spool 51. The spring guides 65 are mounted on a rod or shaft 66 which in turn is carried in the frame supporting structure 10. An arcuately formed sheet 67 is disposed adjacent to the stack of continuous business forms on the shelf 12 and acts to smoothly guide these forms from the shelf 12 up to the idler spool 54. A

discharge guide sheet 68 insures the guiding of the business forms from the driving spool 51 to the receiving tray or shelf 14 which as previorsly stated may be inclined to any position desired to accomplish natural refolding of the stack as at 64. A sensitizing device 69 is in the form of a bell crank 70 hinged at 71 on the frame supporting structure 10. A business form feeler arm 72 constitutes one part of the bell crank 70 and a weighted arm 73 forms the other part of the bell crank 70. The feeler arm 72 projects slightly outwardly from the guide sheet 67 and during that time of the operation when business forms are pulled snugly over this guide sheet 67 and thence onto the idler roller 54 the feeler arm 72 is swung upwardly about its hinge 71 whereupon the weight 73 is lifted. When, however, the supply of business forms is exhausted the feeler arm 72 is allowed to swing outwardly to the position as shown in FIGURE 2 by reason of the weight 73 falling downwardly by gravity and causing the bell crank 70 to rotate about its hinge 71. There is an electric micro switch (not shown) built into this bell crank 70 which operates upon rotation to turn off the source of electromotive force to the motor (not shown) which drives the gear reducer 23. Immediately, therefore, when the continuous business forms are exhausted the machine will automatically stop and the operator must manually replace the supply of forms to reengage operation of the stencil applicator.

A crank arm 74 similar to the crank arm 39 is mounted on the shaft 38 as best shown in FIGURE 3 and is provided with an elongated slot 75. The crank mechanism 74 and 75 is arranged and constructed to effect a pull on a chain 76 by reason of a fastening or connecting link 77 which joins the chain to the crank arm 74. A lock nut 78 is arranged and constructed to hold the connecting link 77 in any desired radial adjustment in the elongated slot 75. It is apparent that the drive mechanism now being described is identical to the .drive mechanism for the continuous business forms and these drives are shown in greater detail in FIGURES 8 and 9. A sprocket 79 is mounted on a shaft 80 for free rotation thereover. A spring 81 attached at 82 to one end of the chain 76 and at 83 to the other end of the chain 76 constitutes with the chain 76 an endless driving element which may effect an incremental movement of the stencil material from the stencil roll 19.

A ratchet wheel 84 forms a part of the sprocket 79 and is also journally mounted on the shaft 80. A plate in the form of a disc member 85 is attached as shown at 86 to the shaft 80. A pawl or dog 87 is pivotally mounted at 88 on the plate member 85 and this pawl is urged by means of a spring 89 similar to the spring 62 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 84. The spring 89 is attached to the plate 85 and normally maintains engagement of the pawl 87 with the ratchet wheel 84 except during that portion of the drive when the crank arm 74 is on its upward stroke, whereupon the spring held pawl 87 merely ratchets or slips over the ratchet teeth. It should be understood that the showing of the driving device in FIGURES 8 and 9 applies equally to this driving mechanism for the stencil material and that the details not fully shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 are to be supplemented by the disclosures in FIGURES 8 and 9.

The shaft 80 is carried in spaced apart bearings 91 and 92 which in turn are mounted on the frame supporting structure 10. The handwheel 93 is fixedly attached to one end of the shaft 80 and it is by means of this handwheel that the roll of stencil material may be manually adjusted within the machine for eifecting a proper start of the machine with the business forms and stencils synchronized. A sprocket 94 is mounted on the other end of the shaft 80 and by means of a chain 95 drive from the shaft 80 is imparted upwardly to a sprocket 96 which is in turn carried on a shaft 97 journally mounted in spaced apart bearings 98 and 99 across the top of the frame structure 10. A stencil feed roller 100 is afiixed to the shaft 97 and it is this driving roll 100 which eifects an intermittent movement of the stencil material through the machine in timed relationship with the movement of the business forms through the machine so that stencils may be applied to each of the business forms. The amount of movement of the feed roller 100 may be adjusted through the driving mechanism as just described and as shown in detail in FIGURES 8 and 9. The drive mechanism for both the business forms and the stencil material are identical one to the other and yet the amount of intermittent movement may be accurately and separately adjusted for each of the two materials to bring about a proper timed relationship between the stencil and the business forms so that a stencil of proper length may be cut and positioned. on the same location on each of the business forms. The handwheel 93 may be used to manually adjust the position of the stencil within the machine at the time of starting up the machine.

A guide sheet 101 as shown in FIGURE 3 is mounted on the frame 10 and serves to guide the combination stencil material to a position over the intermittently driving roller 100. The guide sheet extends downwardly into proximity to the roll of stencil material 19. The stencil material identified by the dot dash line travels over the guide sheet 101 and thence over the driving roller 100 which as previously stated is intermittently driven so that it pulls the stencil material upwardly from the source of supply thereof. An idler roller 102 co-operates with the driven roller 100 to effectively feed the stencil material into the cutting mechanism now to be described. The idler roller 102 is disposed directly above the drive roller 100 and is carried on an arm 103 which is hingedly mounted at 104 on the frame 10. The roller 102 merely engages the top of the driving roller 100 by force of gravity and cooperates to effectively feed the stencil material as it is delivered between the vertically disposed rolls 100 and 102. As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 the carrying arm 103 is in the form of a bell-crank and has a downwardly depending arm 103a which is engaged by a rotatable cam journaled on the frame structure 10. The cam may thus be manually rotated by a knurled wheel 90a to cause the roll 102 to be raised clear of contact with the driving roll 100. However, for all operating use the roll 102 rides freely on top of the roll 100.

The stencil cutting mechanism is shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5 and includes a ledge like member 105 in the form of an angle fixed to the frame 10 on which the stencil material is delivered laterally by the driven roller and its cooperative idler roller 102. A stationary knife or shear 106 is fastened to the angle member by bolts 107. A vertically slidable frame 108 is journalled around said stationary knife 106 and comprises laterally spaced apart side members 109 and 110'. Screw means 111 and 112 join the side members 109 and 110 respectively to a shearing knife 113 which extends across the top of the vertically slidable frame 108. A cross member 114 joins the lower ends of the side members 109 and 110 and thus completes the substantially rectangular frame member 108. Parallel links 115 and 116 are shown joining the stationary ledge 105 and the cross member 114 of the vertically slidable frame 108. A spring 117 is adapted to be anchored at one end at 118 to the cross member 114 and anchored at its other end at 119 to a portion of the frame structure 10. The spring is a tension spring and normally urges the vertically slidable frame 108 downwardly. Tension springs 120 and 121 are provided adjacent the shearing knife 113 to insure a positive shearing action of this movable knife 113 as it crosses the stationary knife 106 in its downward movement. The upper ends of the parallel links 115 and 116 are mounted on the stationary portion of the machine and thus when the cross member 114 is pulled downwardly in a manner to be subsequently described the vertically movable frame member 108 will in effect be swung downwardly about the parallel links 115 and 116 to cause a shearing between the knife elements 113 and 106. A bell crank 122 is pivotally mounted at 123 on a portion of the frame structure 10. This pivot 123 may thus be considered a stationary pivot about which the bell crank may rotate. One corner of the bell crank 122, which in effect is an arm member, is pivotally attached at 124 to the cross member 114. A second arm or portion of the bell crank 122 has a pivotal attachment 125 spaced apart from both the pivotal mountings 123 and 124. The attachment 125 is to a connecting link 126 which is adapted to be moved downwardly and upwardly to effect a shearing of the stencil material as it is fed across the ledge 105 and between the shearing knife members 106 and 113. It should be noted that the movable knife member 113 is angled slightly so that when the movable blade crosses the stationary blade 106 it will do so with a scissors type of action to insure a cutting of the stencil material.

The link 126 is vertically reciprocated by means of an oscillating cam member 127 which is pivoted at 199 on the frame structure This oscillating cam member has upper and lower arms 191 and 192 which flank the shaft 38. An inner cam element 193 has a hub 194 fastened by a pin 195 to the shaft 38. The upper arm 191 has a laterally projecting roller 196 Which rides on the top surface of the inner cam element 193. A roller 197 forms part of and extends laterally from the inner cam element 193 over the lower arm 192. The lower arm 192 is provided with a connecting link 128 which pivotally joins the oscillating cam member at 129 and pivotally joins the lower end of the link 126 at 130. It will thus be evident that as cam member 127 is oscillated and the inner cam element 193 is rotated by reason of the shaft 38 rotating, the connecting link 126 will be moved upwardly and downwardly to effect a movement of the reciprocating knife element 113 relative to the stationary knife element 106. The pivotal attachment at 125 of the link 126 to the bell crank 122 permits outward swing ing movement. In the same manner the pivotal joining of the short link 128 to the oscillating cam member 127 permits and facilitates the inward and outward swinging of the link 126 simultaneously with its up and down movement. The combination of the outer oscillating cam member and the inner cam element provide positive two Way movement for the link 126. In the cutting of the stencil there is also involved the cutting of the adhesive material. The reciprocating knife might have a tendency to pull the stencil up with it when it is raised because of the adhesive. The stencils are fed laterally across the machine on a multiple belt conveyor to be subsequently described. In the event the stencils are not properly started on the conveyor they could cause a jamming and thus it is imperative that the stencils as they are cut be fully removed from the knives and placed down on the transverse conveyor. A small roller 131 is journally carried on a bracket 132 which is fastened at 133 to the reciprocable knife 113. Thus when the knife is pulled down to shear the stencil it presses the stencil downwardly at a position spaced in a rightward direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 to cause positive engagement of the stencil with the laterally running conveyor whereupon the stencil is immediately pulled from the knife.

Also mounted on the shaft 38 is a large diameter grooved pulley 134 which is arranged and constructed to drive a belt 135. The belt 135 extends upwardly for engagement with a grooved pulley 136. The pulley 136 is mounted on a shaft 137 which in turn is carried in a bearing member 138 mounted on the frame structure 10. The shaft carries a roller 139 which is employed to effect drive of an endless conveyor 140 in the direction of the arrow 141 as shown in FIGURE 3. The endless conveyor 140 is mounted on a roller 142 at its other end, which in turn is carried on a shaft 143 supported in a bearing 144 mounted on the frame structure 10. Thus as the shaft 38 rotates, so also does the large pulley 134, and through the means of the crossed belt rotational drive is imparted to the roller 139 which effects a movement of the upper flight 145 of the conveyor 140 in a rightward direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 and as shown by the arrow 141. Thu-s as the stencil-s are cut into predetermined lengths by the cooperative cutters 106 and 113 they are deposited on the end of the conveyor 140 adjacent thereto. As previously described the stencils are positively moved down into engagement with the conveyor 140 by the reciprocating roller 131 as shown in FIGURE 3. The stencils are moved laterally across the machine relative to the movement of the business forms which move longitudinally through the machine. The stencils are disposed beneath the businms forms and when the stencils arrive at some predetermined position across the width of the business forms, they are impressed against the undersurface of the business forms to thereupon be attached to the business forms. After this operation the stencils constitute an integral part of each business form. Following the tabbing of the business forms with the stencils the combination of elements are discharged and deposited on the receiving deck 14. As previously described, the stencils are positively moved down into engagement with the conveyor 140 by the reciprocating roll-er 131 as shown in FIGURE 3. The stencils are moved laterally across the machine relative to the movement of the business forms which move longitudinally through the machine. The stencils are disposed beneath the business forms and when the stencils arrive at some predetermined position across the width of the business forms, they are impressed against the undersurface of the business forms to thereupon be attached to the business forms. After this operation the stencils constitute an integral part of each business form. Following the tabbing of the business forms with the stencils the combination of elements are discharged and deposited on the receiving deck 41. As previously described, this deck may be inclined at any angle necessary to facilitate the ready folding of the continuous business forms as shown at 64.

FIGURE 6 shows the spaced apart rollers 51 and 54 and the included fiat, horizintal run 56 for the business forms and depicts in greater detail the relative positioning of the conveyor 140. Supporting members 146 and 147 are carried on the frame structure 10 and provide under support for the relatively flat run 56 spanning the rollers 51 and 54. The conveyor 140 comprises a plurality of flat belts 148, 149, 159 and 151, which are laterally spaced apart on the end rollers 139 and 142. The cut stencil material is adapted to be fed laterally along this multiple belt conveyor 140 to any desired position.

A cam member 152 is keyed at 153 to the shaft 31 and thus rotates simultaneously with the rotation of the shaft 31. A cam following roller 154 is mounted on a depending arm 155 which forms the support for a stencil impressing member 156. The stencil presser 156 is vertically slidable in a laterally adjustable carriage 157. The carriage is mounted on transversely disposed, longitudinally spaced apart, parallel rail .or track members 158 and 159. The track members 158 and 159 are mounted respectively at 160 and 161 on brackets 162 and 163 which in turn are carried on the frame supporting structure of this device. The carriage 157 is provided with manually operable Wing set screws 164 for loosening and subsequent tightening to effect a lateral adjustment of the carriage on the rails :158 and 1159. The carriage 157 is equipped with freely journaled guide rollers 165, 166, 167 and 168 which are vertically and horizontally spaced apart to slidably receive the substantially vertically disposed member 155 of the stencil presser \156.

The construciton of the presser 156 is such that it consists of spaced elements to pass upwardly at the sides of and between the spaced apart stencil feeding belts 148, 149, 150 and 151 of the conveyor 140. That edge of the stencil having the pressure sensitive reusable adhesive is adapted to ride over the belt 148 and extends somewhat to the right of the belt 148 as viewed in FIGURE 6. The remainder of the thin stencil extends over the other belts and at a preselected location the presser is arranged and constructed to lift the stencil upwardly and impress it onto the passing business form. The presser 156 in addition to having the depending guide member 155 is provided with a vertically disposed spaced apart side presser element 169 which is bolted or otherwise fastened through a spacer 165a at the bottom thereof at 170 .to the upper end of the guide rod 155. A cross member 171 is mounted on top of the post 155 and is disposed parallel to the side presser element 169. The top surfaces of the element 169 and the cross member 171 are covered with a pliable, soft rubber to engage the front face of the stencils and press them onto the face of the business forms passing through the machine. In the construction of the machine it is preferred that the rubber 172 on the adhesive pressing element 169 be of less thickness and thus somewhat firmer than the rubber 173 on the upper end cross member 171 of the guide rod 155 which is utilized to hold the body of the stencil in an up position when the stencil is being attached to the business form. The upper end 171 of the guided rod 155 passes between the stencil carrying flat belts 14 8 and 145. Brackets 174, 175 and 176 are employed to raise the remaining surface of the stencil to a position just under the business forms when the stencil is being attached thereto. The bracket 174 is positioned between the flat belts 149 and 150; the bracket 175 is positioned between the fiat belts 156* and 151; and the bracket 176 is positioned outside the flat belt 151. These brackets are all equipped with lateral extensions which are fastened at 177 to the bolt 176 to the guided rod 155 along with the pressing element 169. All of these brackets and their attachment to the guided rod 155 are normally positioned between the upper and lower flights of the fiat belts 148, 149, 150 and 151. It should be evident that the cam member 152 and a set screw 178 which fastens the cam 152 to the shaft 31 with the key 153 therebetween may be laterally adjusted therealong. This adjustment is made to coincide with the adjustment of the presser carrying carriage 157. Thus the presser 156 may be moved laterally to any desired position relative to the business forms being used in the machine of this invention. The presser 156 includes an upwardly extending stencil stop member 179 which as shown in FIGURE 3 is attached at 180 to the presser 156 and extends upwardly through the spaced belts 148 and 149 and acts to finally index each stencil over the presser 156 prior to its being raised and pressed onto the underside of the face of the business forms. The laterally feeding, multiple flat belt conveyor is continuously running and thus the position of the stop 179 is controlling as to the lateral positioning of the stencil.

As the presser 156 moves the stencil upwardly the rubber top 172 of the presser element 169 engages the back side of the pressure sensitive reusable adhesive tape and moves it into engagement with the business form passing thereover. A back-up bar 181 is disposed over the path of travel of the business forms and provides a rigid back-up for the business form during the impressing of the stencil thereon. The bar 181 is best shown in FIG- URES l, 3 and 6 and is hinged at one end at 182 to permit its upward swinging thereabout during the threading of the business forms [through the machine at a time of starting. The other end of the bar 183 is suitably latched at 184 to the frame structure to hold it down during the pressing of the stencils on the business forms.

It should be apparent that herein is provided a stencil applicator in which business forms in a continuous strip with necessary perforations therebetween are moved longitudinally through the machine in regular increments so that the amount of movement in any one period of time constitutes the full length of the business form. This is accomplished by means of the adjustment of the throw of the crank arm as shown in the drive mechanism of FIG- URES 8 and 9. Obviously any length of business form may be accommodated. Similarly the stencil material is moved from its roll supply at 19 upwardly through the feed roller 1110 and its cooperative idling roller 102 whereafter it is cut into desired lengths by the reciprocating movement 'of the knife element 113. The cut stencil is then moved laterally through the machine beneath the run of business forms to a position over the impressing element 156. The cam 152 then moves the pressure element 156 upwardly so that the side edge 169 thereof impresses the pressure sensitive adhesive portion of the stencil against the under side of the business form which is backed by the rigid bar to thereupon cause the stencil to become an integral part of the business form. The initial use of the business form contemplates the cutting of the stencil and the simultaneous imprinting of all of the sheets comprising the business form. In subsequent use of the business form the stencil is removed and used in an imprinting machine to imprint the name and address of the recipient of the goods constituting the sale represented by the invoice or other business forms. As previously stated, the multiple parts of the presser element 156 are moved upwardly through the spaced apart flat belts 145, 146, 147 and 148 to urge the stencil material of stencil sheet and carbon sheet up against the bottom of the business form at the same time as the side edge 169 thereof presses the strip of reusable pressure sensitive adhesive of the stencil against the under side of the business form. Following the attachment of the stencil to the business form, the business form continues its movement through the machine in a longitudinal direction for eventual deposit on the receiving station 14. For purposes of better understanding FIGURE 7 shows a completed business form and stencil as the combination of elements are deposited in the stack 64 on the adjustably inclined receiv ing platform 14. The business forms 13 have perforations 185 therebetween to permit subsequent separation in their use. In an address portion 186 of each business form there is applied a stencil 187 with its adhesive portion 188 pressed against the surface of the business form so that a single typing may effect a cutting of the stencil and an imprinting of the multisheet business form which is preferably or usually interleaved with a plurality of carbon sheets. Further, the stencil material is, as previously stated, equipped with an underlying carbon sheet or a carbon coating so that upon the cutting of the stencil therewill be a simultaneous imprinting of the top sheet of the business form.

As previously stated electric power is delivered to the machine to drive the operating motor. A main switch 200 is provided to commence motor operation. Following the turning on of the manual switch 200 the tabbing machine continues to operate until the supplies of either the business forms or stencils are exhausted or the manual switch is turned off.

Various details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1 A machine comprising a frame, means on said frame supporting a plurality of continuous business forms, means engaging and driving said continuous business forms through said machine in a particular plane and in a particular direction on a generally straight line path, means on said frame supporting a continuous strip of stencils, said strip of stencils having a pressure sensitive adhesive afiixed thereto, means driving said continuous strip of stencils in said machine to a second plane at a level beneath the particular plane of passage of said business forms, means cutting individual stencils in the second plane from said continuous strip of stencils, conveyor means separate from said means driving said con tinuous strip of stencils for carrying said individually cut stencils in said second plane at right angles to and across the path of movement of the continuous business forms, means pressing an individually cut stencil with its pressure sensitive adhesive upwardly against each of said business forms, and means timing the movement of both of said business forms and stencils to accurately position said stencil in the same location on each business form.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the individually cut stencils are carried across said machine in a plane beneath said continuous business forms, and the means pressing the cut stencils with the adhesive thereon includes a ventically reciprocable member arranged and constructed beneath the cut stencil to engage a substantial area of the stencil and lift the stencil from the conveyor means carrying the stencil, said reciprocable member including a pressing strip to engage that portion of the stencil having the pressure sensitive adhesive, and said machine having a back-up bar positioned over the top of the business forms at the position along the pressure sensitive adhesive whereby the pressing strip presses the stencil against the continuous business form to cause it to adhere to said business form.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the conveyor means carrying the individually cut stencils comprises a plurality of spaced apart generally parallel flat belts, and said means pressing the individually cut stencils with the adhesive comprises a vertically reciprocable member having spaced apart narrow strip elements and a pressing strip arranged and constructed to have a narrow strip element and the pressing strip pass upwardly through each of said spaced apart flat belts to thereupon raise the stencil thereon from the belts and move it into engagement with said business forms.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said means pressing the individually cut stencils with the adhesive comprises a vertically reciprocable member adjustable along the length of said conveyor means to engage said stencil and raise it from said conveyor means and press it upwardly to effect engagement at any desired location across the business forms.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said means cutting the stencils comprises a vertically reciprocable knife which is located between the means driving the continuous strip of stencils and the conveyor means for the individually cut stencils.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which there is included a roller element supported on and movable with said vertically reciprocable knife, said roller element spaced from said vertically reciprocable knife and dis- 11-2 posed over said conveyor means carrying said individually cut stencils whereby the roller element moving with said reciprocable knife causes the individually cut stencil to be firmly pressed down and started on the conveyor means carrying said individually cut stencils.

7. An apparatus for tabbing business forms with stencils, said business forms of the type having punched margins, comprising sprocket means engaging said punched margins for moving and accurately indexing said business forms through said apparatus in a certain direction, a flat belt conveyor disposed at right angles to said certain direction of movement of said business forms and beneath said business forms, means depositing stencils on said flat belt conveyor, and means raising said stencil from said flat belt conveyor, for attaching said stencils to said business forms in a predetermined location thereon, and means timing the movement of both of said business forms and stencils to accurately position said stencil in substantially the same location on each business form.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which said flat belt conveyor includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart endless belts and said means raising said stencils cornprises a pressing element disposed between said laterally spaced apart endless belts whereby said pressing element moves upwardly through the spaces between said belts to lift the cut stencils therefrom and impress them onto the underside of said business forms.

9. A machine comprising a frame, means on said frame supporting a plurality of paper forms, means engaging and driving said paper forms through a portion of said machine in a particular plane and in a praticular direction, means on said frame supporting a continuous strip of stencils, said strip of stencils having an adhesive affixed thereto, means driving said continuous strip of stencils in said machine to a, second plane at a level spaced from the particular plane of passage of said paper forms, means cutting individual stencils from said continuous strip of stencils, conveyor means for carrying said individually cut stencils to a position in opposed relationship to said paper forms, means pressing an individually cut stencil with its adhesive against each of said paper forms, and means timing the movement of both of said paper forms and stencils to accurately position said stencil in substantially the same location on each paper form.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which said con tinuous strip of stencils includes a carbon sheet therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,286,159 Reynolds June 9, 1942 2,666,543 Standish Jan. 19, 1954 2,808,871 Brown Oct. 8, 1957 

